After a customer backlash, Verizon Wireless on Friday dropped a plan to start charging $2 for every payment subscribers make over the phone or online with their credit or debit cards.
In a statement on its website Friday, the company said “customer feedback” prompted the decision to drop the “convenience fee” it wanted to introduce on Jan. 15.
The CES 2011, with announcements of smartphones for Verizon LTE, was able to believe in their imminent arrival. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, which is held annually in January, is often the occasion of a show of strength for societies, giving an overview of electronic products to be launched later this year.
Android is the operating system for mobile phones based on Linux. Android provides an open platform to developers for creating their own applications for use by a variety of mobile devices. Initially, Google Inc. bought Android Inc., newcomers who make software for mobile phones. Then to develop Android, formed the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 34 companies for hardware, software, and telecommunications, including Google, HTC, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, T-Mobile, and Nvidia.
Verizon Wireless is cutting the prices for Palm’s Pre Plus and Pixi Plus smart phones and offering free access to a Wi-Fi service that lets the phones deliver Internet access to other kinds of devices such as Apple’s iPad.
Palm Inc. has been struggling to compete as consumers flock to such devices as Apple Inc.’s iPhone and Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry, so the price cut and addition of some free service could help the company snag bargain-hunting shoppers.
Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney said Thursday that Verizon is selling Palm’s Pre Plus for $50, down from $150. The Pixi Plus now goes for $30, down from $80. Both require two-year contracts.
